Cornerback Aqib Talib was traded from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the Patriots on Nov. 1, in an attempt to improve the Pats' weak secondary. In 58 games with the Buccaneers, Talib had 53 pass breakups and 18 interceptions. He is serving a four-game suspension for taking the performance-enhancing drug Adderall, before training camp, but will play in the final seven games of the regular season. Here's a review of some of the major (key word!) trades that have been completed lately involving Boston teams.
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REUTERS

On Aug. 25, the Red Sox sent righthander Josh Beckett, left fielder Carl Crawford, infielder Nick Punto, and first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, along with $11 million in cash, to the Los Angeles Dodgers. In return, the Sox got first baseman James Loney, infielder Ivan DeJesus, outfielder Jerry Sands,and right-handers Allen Webster and Rubby De La Rosa, making it the biggest MLB deal of the season and one of the Red Sox’ most significant trades in team history. The trade will save the team around $250 million in salaries through 2018.
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In July of 2011,, Patriots fans woke up to the stunning news that the team was working on a deal to acquire defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth, far left, from the Washington Redskins, then arrived home for dinner to learn they had traded for outspoken CIncinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco. Haynesworth and Ochocinco were controversial, to say the least, and had worn out their welcome with their respective teams, but both also filled needs for the Patriots at the time.
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Chad OchocincoThis deal, the subject of speculation for some time, became reality July 28, 2011, when the Patriots followed their stunning trade for defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth by acquiring Ochocinco from the Cincinnati Bengals for late round draft picks in both 2012 and 2013. Patriots coach Bill Belichick has said before that he has a great deal of respect for the Ochocinco, who has returned the verbal favor. Ochocinco fizzled in New England, making only 15 catches in his only season with the team.

The former Chad Johnson, 33, had 67 catches for 831 yards and four touchdowns last season for the woeful Bengals last year. He has 751 career regular-season receptions for 10,783 yards and 66 touchdowns.
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Albert HaynesworthThe giant defensive lineman—he's listed at 6-foot-6, 330 pounds—was once among the most dominant defensive linemen in the NFL and he was chosen for the Pro Bowl twice. But he'll always be remembered for stomping Cowboys center Andre Gurode's head while he was with the Titans, as well as his multiple failed conditioning tests and ensuing spat with Redskins coach Mike Shanahan that led to his suspension for the final month of last season. He did not pan out for the Patriots, and was cut in November of 2011.
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Kendrick PerkinsThe shock value of some trades lies in the player or players who arrive. In other cases, it's who is departing, and that was definitely the case with Kendrick Perkins, a fan favorite who came back from a knee injury ahead of schedule in 2011 and was considered one of the key pieces as the Celtics made a run at another NBA championship. But team president Danny Ainge decided the need for a forward was greater, and dealt Perkins and guard Nate Robinson to the Oklahoma City Thunder for forward Jeff Green and center Nenad Krstic in a stunning moves at the trading deadline in February of 2011.
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Tomas KaberleThe Bruins made some key upgrades prior to the NHL trading deadline in February of 2011, but the top move was trading with the Toronto Maple Leafs for veteran defenseman Tomas Kaberle in exchange for forward Joe Colborne, whom they chose in the first round of the 2008 draft, and a conditional draft pick. They also traded for center Chris Kelly, center Rich Peverley and defenseman Boris Valabik to clear the cap space needed for Kaberle.
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Adrian GonzalezEnding one of the longest pursuits of a player in modern Red Sox history, power-hiting first baseman Adrian Gonzalez was introduced by the team at a Fenway Park ceremony in December of 2010. The Red Sox sent three prospects—pitcher Casey Kelly, outfielder Raymond Fuentes and first baseman Anthony Rizzo—to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Gonzalez, who had been coveted by the Red Sox and their fans for several years.
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Randy MossThere was stunning news the morning of Oct. 6, 2010: The Patriots had traded star wide receiver Randy Moss to the Vikings for a third-round draft pick. The move was foreshadowed by a postgame rant after the season opener in which Moss expressed his displeasure over the Patriots' refusal to negotiate a contract extension. Then, just two days before the trade, Moss had no receptions in a Monday night victory over the Dolphins, the first time Moss had gone without a catch since 2006.

His stay in Minnesota was short-lived. After the Vikings lost to the Patriots on Halloween, Moss delivered another postgame gem, this time expressing his love for the Patriots and regret for leaving.
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Jarrod SaltalamacchiaAt the time the Red Sox pulled the trigger on a 2010 deadline-day deal with the Rangers for the catcher in exchange for prospects, it was seen as little more than an afterthought. But following the departure of Victor Martinez after the season, Saltalamacchia found himself thrust into the starting role by the time spring training rolled around in February of 2011.
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Richard SeymourIn a move that sent shockwaves across the NFL, the Patriots traded five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Richard Seymour on Sept. 22, 2009 to the Oakland Raiders Sunday in exchange for a 2011 first-round draft choice. Seymour was part of all three Patriots teams that won Super Bowls.
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Phil KesselThe Bruins shipped the winger to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sept. 18, 2009 for a first- and second-round draft pick in 2010 and a first-round pick in 2011. Kessel, whom the Bruins drafted in 2006 with the fifth overall pick, and coach Claude Julien clashed over playing style and the trade had been in the works about three months prior, but fell apart over a miscommunication about the pieces involved.
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Victor MartinezOn July 31, 2009, the Red Sox acquired switch-hitting Indians All-Star catcher Victor Martinez at the trade deadline for pitcher Justin Masterson and two prospects. The Sox also shipped Adam LaRoche to Atlanta for first baseman Casey Kotchman in a separate deal. Martinez shined for the Red Sox in 2010, but signed a four-year deal with the Detroit Tigers in November of 2010.
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Matt Cassel and Mike VrabelCassel played quite capably throughout 2008, the season Tom Brady missed because of a knee injury, and led the Patriots to an 11-5 record, but the team missed the playoffs. Two months after the season ended, Cassel was traded to the Chiefs—run by ex-Patriots personnel boss Scott Pioli—on Feb. 27, 2009 along with Mike Vrabel for a second-round draft pick.

Vrabel was the more shocking aspect of the trade. The versatile linebacker—he was sometimes used in a receiving role—was a fan favorite who won three Super Bowls with the Patriots and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2007.
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Manny RamirezOn July 31, 2008, controversial Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-team trade right at the trading deadline. In the deal, Ramirez was shipped to LA, and left fielder Jason Bay was shipped from Pittsburgh to Boston. The Pirates received third baseman Andy LaRoche, brother of Red Sox first baseman Adam LaRoche, and pitcher Bryan Morris from the Dodgers, and righthander Craig Hansen and outfielder Brandon Moss from the Red Sox.
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Kevin GarnettThe blockbuster deal to bring the forward from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Celtics completed the "Big Three" that would deliver Boston its 17th NBA title. The Celtics sent five players—Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Sebastain Telfair and Theo Ratliff—as well as two draft picks to Minnesota on July 31, 2007.
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Ray AllenThe guard was the first acquisition the Celtics made to form the "Big Three." On June 28, 2007—the night of the NBA Draft—the Celtics sent Delonte West, Wally Sczerbiak and the rights to their first-round draft pick, Jeff Green, to the Seattle SuperSonics in order to team Allen up with Paul Pierce, and later Kevin Garnett.
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Randy MossOn April 29, 2007, the second day of the NFL draft, the Patriots acquired Randy Moss from the Oakland Raiders in exchange for a fourth-round selection in the 2007 draft, giving Tom Brady a true deep threat that would lead to a record-setting season in 2007. Brady set the single-season touchdown pass mark (50), and Moss set a record for touchdown receptions in a season (23).
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Wes WelkerOn March 5, 2007, the Patriots obtained receiver Wes Welker from the Miami Dolphins for a second- and a seventh-round pick in the 2007 draft.
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Deion BranchThe receiver who was the MVP of Super Bowl XXXIX vs. the Eagles was traded to the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 11, 2006 for a draft pick, then was brought back on Oct. 12, 2010, also for a draft pick. Branch also played a key role in the Patriots' victory over the Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII.
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Andrew RaycroftHours after choosing Phil Kessel with the fifth pick in the NHL Draft on June 24, 2006, the Bruins traded goalie Andrew Raycroft, the 2004 Calder Trophy winner as NHL rookie of the year, to the Maple Leafs for goalie prospect Tuukka Rask. Raycroft was coming off a tough season that began with a contract holdout, and the Bruins coveted Rask, whom they had hoped to draft in 2005.
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Joe ThorntonOn Nov. 30, 2005, just a few months after the center signed a three-year, $20 million contract, he was shipped to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Marco Sturm, Wayne Primeau and Brad Stuart. Thornton, the No. 1 pick in the 1997 NHL Draft spent parts of eight seasons with the Bruins.
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Josh Beckett and Mike LowellOn Nov. 24, 2005, during general manager Theo Epstein's brief leave of absence from the Red Sox, the team picked up two players who played key roles in Boston's 2007 World Series championship. Beckett, a righthanded pitcher, and Lowell, a Gold Glove third baseman, were acquired along with reliever Guillermo Mota, but at a steep price. Boston's top prospect, shortstop Hanley Ramirez, was the key to the deal with the Florida Marlins. Pitchers Anibal Sanchez, Harvey Garcia and Jesus Delgado were also sent to Florida. Beckett was the MVP of the 2007 ALCS and Lowell was the MVP of the 2007 World Series.
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Corey DillonThe Patriots traded a second-round pick in the 2004 draft to acquire the running back from the Cincinnati Bengals on April 19, 2004. Dillon spent the final three seasons of his career in New England and won a Super Bowl ring in 2004 following a 1,635-yard season.
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Nomar Garciaparra Trading shortstop Nomar Garciaparra to the Cubs at the July 31 deadline in 2004 was a defining moment for Red Sox GM Theo Epstein, and there can be no questioning it helped Boston win its first World Series in 86 years. He dealt the team's marquee player "in one of the most momentous transactions in the modern annals of the 103-year-old franchise," wrote the Globe's Bob Hohler at the time. After making the deal, Epstein said: ''It was with mixed emotions that we let Nomar go. He's been one of the greatest Red Sox of all time.'' The Red Sox received shortstop Orlando Cabrera from the Montreal Expos and first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz from the Minnesota Twins in a multi-team deal.
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Curt SchillingLess than a month after spending Thanksgiving dinner with the Schillings in 2003 and trying to convince Curt to accept a deal to Boston, Epstein made his biggest deal to that point: Acquiring Schilling from Arizona in exchange for Casey Fossum, Brandon Lyon, and two minor leaguers. Schilling won 21 games for the Red Sox in 2004 and had legendary performances against the Yankees and Cardinals in the postseason.
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Antoine WalkerOn Oct. 20, 2003, the Celtics traded the forward, along with guard Tony Delk, to the Dallas Mavericks for forwards Raef LaFrentz and Chris Mills, guard Jiri Welsch and a 2004 first-round draft pick (which was used to draft Delonte West). Walker had been drafted sixth overall by the Celtics in the 1996 draft.
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Drew BledsoeThe notion of ever seeing Drew Bledsoe in another uniform seemed distant in the mid-90s when the quarterback was leading the Patriots to new heights, including a Super Bowl appearance in 1997. But the emergence of Tom Brady when Bledsoe went down in 2001 to a serious injury ultimately made Bledsoe expendable, and he was traded to the Buffalo Bills on draft day in 2002 for a first-round pick in 2003.
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Ray BourqueThe defenseman spent 20 seasons with the Bruins, but asked for and received a trade in 2000 that gave him his one and only Stanley Cup victory. Bourque was sent to the Colorado Avalanche along with Dave Andreychuk in exchange for Brian Rolston, Martin Grenier and Samuel Pahlsson. He scored four goals and had six assists for the Avalanche during their 2001 playoff run that ended with a victory over the Devils in the Cup finals.
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